“I think he’s quite a dear,” returned Muriel comfortably. “I’ve known him since I was in short frocks and a pigtail. He was a friend of my father’s. They were at Harrow together and afterwards in the same regiment in India. He thinks me—well, just a little flighty, but he doesn’t altogether hate me; and he’s quite paternally fond of Tommy,” she ended with a gay little laugh.
“By the way,” asked Anne, curious, “why does he so dislike Millicent Sheldon? It is quite obvious he does dislike her.”
Muriel gave a little start. Then she looked at Anne, doubtful, hesitating. “Oh, my dear Anne, don’t you know? Somehow I fancied that every one—” She stopped.
“Know what?” queried Anne idly, but interested.
“It’s really gossip—if true things are gossip,” said Muriel half apologetically; “still, some one is sure to tell you sooner or later since you’ve met General Carden.” Again she stopped.
“But tell me what!” demanded Anne. “Since you’ve said so much, had you not better give me the rest? Besides, since you say some one is sure to tell me, why not let me hear the story from you? You can sweeten it, add sugar and cream, if you will, or vinegar and spice, if those ingredients will flavour it better.”
Muriel laughed. “I’ll omit the garnishings; you shall have the facts plain and simple. Millicent was once upon a time engaged to General Carden’s son. Then—for certain reasons—she threw him over, and married the highly respectable and bald-headed Theobald Horatio Sheldon, whose money—of which he has a very considerable quantity—was made by inventing those little brush things that are fixed on behind carts and sweep up the dirt in the roads.”
“I see,” mused Anne, comprehending. “But of course, as I had never met General Carden [Pg 150]before, I naturally did not know that he possessed a son. He did not, either, happen to mention him to me.”
“But of course not,” said Muriel tragically. “That’s exactly where the reasons and the real gossip come in. He spent three years in Portland prison for forgery, or embezzlement, or something of the kind. He’s out now, but he was in.”
“Oh!” said Anne seriously.